Time is running out for Sunderland – and Gus Poyet is well aware that only one team in Premier League history has been bottom on Christmas Day and avoided the drop.

True, they are not getting much luck at the moment – as Wes Brown will testify.

The former Manchester United defender not only hit the post with a header, he was also harshly sent off by referee Martin Atkinson following an, admittedly wild, tackle on Norwich sub Ricky van Wolfswinkel.

With the Black Cats rooted at rock bottom this is the worst possible time to lose their best player for three games.

If they play like they did in the second half, and improve their finishing, they might yet have a chance of emulating West Brom’s heroics in avoiding the drop eight years ago.

But Poyet admits to being baffled as to why they aren’t winning games like this relegation scrap against Norwich.

“I never expected this,” said the Sunderland boss, who saw his side squander a number of great ­opportunities to defeat the Canaries . “There are things that happened that I have no answer for.”

Not all is lost however.

In 2005, Albion were bottom on Christmas Day and stayed up. And Poyet’s men are still only four points away from safety. But the Uruguyan coach knows they will only pull off the great escape if they develop a cutting edge up front.

“I expected someone to score,” he added. “I expected us to win. But players were taking ­decisions in the last 30 metres that were scary. They were taking two or three touches rather than shoot. Today was a day to win. We are responsible for this.”

In the first half, Fabio Borini shot just wide, Jozy Altidore’s goal-bound strike was blocked by Michael Turner and Phil Bardsley forced a great save from John Ruddy.

Bardsley then came perilously close to putting the ball in his own net – which would have been six own goals for the ­Wearsiders in the past ten games.

The Canaries had a couple of half-chances in the opening period. First Nathan Redmond’s shot was palmed away by Vito Mannone – and just before the interval Leroy Fer hit the ball lamely at the Sunderland keeper from 15 yards out.

But after the break, the home side upped the ante and it was mostly one-way traffic towards the visitors’ goal.

Turner’s miscued ­clearance set up Brown’s header against the ­woodwork. Then Turner almost put Sebastian ­Larsson’s low cross into his own net – and Bardsley headed sub Adam ­Johnson’s curling cross into Ruddy’s hands.

Ruddy almost made a terrible gaffe to gift ­Sunderland the winner.

Borini robbed the keeper on the edge of the penalty area and picked out Ki Sung-Yeung. The Korean is becoming increasingly influential as a deep-lying midfielder – but his chip, with Ruddy still off his line, landed on the roof of the net.

Norwich boss Chris Hughton was clearly relieved to have come away from the Stadium of Light with a point.

He said: “A draw was a fair result. It was end to end with both teams having a go.

“I can see Sunderland winning games. It’s all about small margins. They could have had a few goals from this game – but then again so could we.

“We’ve picked up a bit of momentum since big defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City.

“And they were buoyed after a great win in the League Cup against Chelsea.

“So given this, we did well. A clean sheet away from home in a goalless draw is good.”